Plant Shut after Peanut Butter Recall

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A peanut butter plant in Portales has been shut down since Saturday after an outbreak of salmonella was linked to the facility.

The Sunland, Inc., plant is being scrubbed top to bottom and tests are being done to see if the bacteria is on the peanut butter-making equipment. Sunland officials say the rest of their processing facilities continue to operate.

Trader Joe's Valencia Creamy Peanut Butter with Sea Salt made at the plant is suspected in the salmonella outbreak. Twelve of the 29 people who are sick all ate that type of spread about a week before they got sick.

Sunland spokeswoman Katalin Corburn tells KRQE-TV (http://bit.ly/RY2sW8 ) that no salmonella has been found in the plant and the peanut roasting process would kill any bacteria.

Sunland recalled 76 types of peanut butter and almond butter it makes for several retailers.